But what does this have to do with whether the fictional world of "A Song of Ice and Fire" is more or less realistic in their depiction of "medieval society" [1

But what does this have to do with whether the fictional world of "A Song of Ice and Fire" is more or less realistic in their depiction of "medieval society" [1] than the epic romances that came before, and that he compares to "Disneyland Middle Ages"? [1, again]. We are discussing GRRM's fictional depiction of a "realistic" middle ages, with a focus on Europe but some side-dishes of Asian steppe cultures -- which according to ACOUP he also gets wrong. Which wouldn't matter if GRRM didn't assert his depiction was more realistic! ---- [1] George Martin's words.